President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconference meeting on January 28 on the development of school education.

The head of state stressed that school education is a matter of life and death.

“We have no right to delay reforms in this area. We need to lay a solid foundation in school education from today. We will mobilize all our attention and resources for this. We are choosing a difficult path, but this path will solve problems,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

It was stressed that the improvement of schools should be the task not only of the Ministry of Public Education, but of all ministries and departments, khokimiyats, scientific organizations, intellectuals, the general public.

In particular, it is necessary to reform 10,130 schools across the country. These more than 6 million students, more than 500,000 teachers, all strata of our society in general, are involved in the future of every family.

Problems and current issues in the field were highlighted at the meeting.

Today, 1,695 schools are in need of major repairs. There are still 179 schools built of cotton. More than 3,000 schools need additional training facilities. More than 2,000 schools do not have gyms.

In addition, there is a need to build 270 more schools due to the construction of new housing estates, the expansion of rural infrastructure and population growth.

It was noted that the educational standards used so far, the curriculum is aimed only at theoretical knowledge and does not teach children to think logically, practice, life.

There are still more than 200 reports in the system, and processes such as training and events are overly standardized. The book stock in school libraries has not been updated over the years. Only 615 schools have national musical instruments. Evaluation of schools, in the name of their certification and accreditation, does not serve to improve the educational environment.

Such shortcomings require a radical reconsideration of all approaches in the public education system, their absolute improvement. Therefore, it was said that major reforms will be launched to update the appearance of schools, both internally and externally, to bring the quality of education to a whole new level.

“In general, we will completely review the teaching methodology, textbooks, from the desk to the building. If we do not create conditions for education, for teachers, society will not change. School education reform councils will be established at the district, regional and national levels. I personally chair the Republican Council. The district and regional councils will be headed by governors,” he said.

These councils organize work in the field in consultation with the public, based on the views of teachers, parents and professionals.

The meeting identified priorities for the development of school education.

It is necessary to create 1.2 million student places in the next five years. The head of state instructed to increase capacity by building new schools and additional buildings in existing ones.

It was noted that now the khokims of regions, cities and districts will deal with this issue. In addition to the funds allocated by the state, part of the local budget revenues will be directed to schools. Most importantly, the new schools will be built and commissioned under the supervision of community activists, parents and the community.

The head of state stressed the importance of reforms in the field of school education and tasked officials to develop a strategy in cooperation with international organizations. On this basis, it was decided to adopt a program for the development of school education.

At the meeting, ministers and khokims, teachers and school principals from all over the country made proposals.